This summary report on the distribution of federal postsecondary education funds in the Western states is presented by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. The basic concerns addressed in the study are: What major federal assistance programs affect postsecondary education? How should federal program assistance to states be measured? How much do WICHE states receive? and Where can additional information be obtained? The major federal programs examined are the Basic Opportunity Grants; the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants; College Work Study; National Direct Student Loans; Guaranteed Student Loans; Institutional Development; Social Security Student Benefits; Veteran's Education Benefits; and Federal Research and Development. New gains and losses of federal funds for the entire WICHE region and for each state within the region by program are shown in a series of charts. Various methods of determining a measure for federal program assistance to analyze the impact of programs are given. The method used in this study is to identify reasonable measures of program intent, to develop hypothetical distributions of federal funds using these program intent measures, and finally to compare these hypothetical distributions with actual federal disbursal statistics. (JMF)